Richbod

Who was Richbod?

Richbod was the Abbot of Lorsch from 784 and Abbot of Mettlach and Archbishop of Trier from around 792. He held the two abbacies and the bishopric concurrently until his death. He was the first archbishop of Trier.

Richbod was a pupil of Alcuin at the court of Charlemagne. In that inner court circle, where the learned assumed ancient names associated with wise men, he was Macarius. He was regarded as a man wise before God and popular with men. According to Alcuin, he was a great admirer of Vergil, whose Aeneid he was reputed to know better than the Gospels.

In 798, he drew up a response to the adoptionist heresy of Felix of Urgel. Other than this, his actions as archbishop are obscure. In Lorsch, however, he transferred the dormitory from the north to the south and surrounded it with a wall. Furthermore, he surrounded the tomb of Saint Nazarius with a gold and silver lattice and a colourful new marble floor. He died in Trier and was buried in the abbey at Lorsch.